A new $250 “visa integrity fee” will soon apply to nearly all travelers requiring a nonimmigrant visa to enter the United States. The fee was introduced under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025.
This mandatory charge will be in addition to existing visa application and processing fees and cannot be waived or reduced. While the law allows for potential reimbursement after the visa expires, the process for claiming a refund remains unclear.
Who Will Be Affected?
The visa integrity fee applies to all nonimmigrant visa categories, including:
B-1/B-2 (tourist and business)
F-1 (student)
H-1B (specialty occupation workers)
L-1 (intra-company transferees)
O-1 (individuals with extraordinary ability)
TN (NAFTA professionals)
Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers are exempt from the fee.
The $250 charge is the minimum required for FY 2025, but the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may increase the amount through future rulemaking. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the fee will also adjust annually for inflation.
Can the Fee Be Refunded?
Possibly—but only under strict conditions.
To be eligible for a refund, the visa holder must:
Fully comply with the terms of their visa
Avoid overstaying by more than five days
Not work without authorization
Either depart the U.S. on time, extend their status, or adjust to permanent residence (green card)
Refunds can only be requested after the visa has expired, and with many visas valid for multiple years, the current lack of a reimbursement system makes refunds unlikely in practice.
Implications for Travelers and Employers
For Individuals and Students:
The new fee adds a significant cost burden, especially for families and students who already face steep visa-related expenses. For example, a tourist visa for a family of four now includes an additional $1,000 in integrity fees alone.
For Employers:
Employment-based visa applicants—such as those applying for an H-1B abroad—will also be subject to this new fee. Employers may need to re-evaluate their immigration budgets, as they already pay substantial fees including:
$780 base filing fee
$500 anti-fraud fee
Potential attorney and administrative costs
Companies will need to decide whether to cover the integrity fee for employees or leave it as a personal expense.
What Employers Should Do Now
Plan ahead: Include the visa integrity fee in your FY 2025 immigration planning.
Communicate clearly: Let international candidates know about the fee early in the process and whether your company will cover it.
Stay informed: DHS and the State Department have not yet finalized the implementation timeline or refund procedures. Employers should monitor official updates closely.
Have Immigration Questions?
Our federal immigration attorney Seth Finberg handles H-1B, EB-1, EB-2 NIW, O-1, EB-5, E-2, and removal defense cases nationwide.
